Cape Coral couple accused of extorting immigrants

A Cape Coral couple is accused of extorting immigrants after an investigation that started in 2016.

Kamaljit and Simone Uttam are both expected to be charged with felony extortion.

Neighbors and workers at the Uttam home told NBC2 they saw the husband in cuffs at the home Friday afternoon.

Documents from the Cape Coral Police Department show the two were named in a warrant signed on January 13 prior to the couple's arrests.

Both Kamaljit and Simone Uttam are listed as having owned an Indian-goods store on Del Prado Parkway with an active business license through 2015. Other business owners in the center recognized the names and owners. They said the business had few customers and was short lived in the location.

Simone filed for a dissolution of marriage in June of 2015, but voluntarily dismissed the request days late.

In 2016, Simone was charged with theft after she was reportedly caught trying to leave Wal-Mart with her three small children and almost $500 of unpaid merchandise. She told investigators she thought her husband may have prepaid for the items, as he was inside the store on his cell phone.

Simone was out on pretrial release before the arrest on January 13. She remains in the Lee County Jail without bond due to her prior charge.

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